Reading inbox-outbox: Week of 9 February

Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck (signed hardcover) — My Indiespensible shipment arrived this week! Volume 51 featured this debut novel from a Swedish author currently living in Canada. The box also included a blank notebook and a bag of hipster-Portland granola. Powell’s is the best. I’d never heard of this book/author before, but I trust the book buyers at Powell’s.

Outbox (books finished)

The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler (Kindle) — I didn’t realize that the author of this book is (probably better known as) Lemony Snicket. This book reads like a cross between Fight Club and We Were Liars with maybe a little Dare Me thrown in for good measure. What I mean is, it’s smart prose featuring an unreliable narrator and a good amount of darkness that hovers at the edges, creeping over more and more of the story, until, before you know it, basically everyone is soaked in blood. This isn’t really a genre I read often. But, I have to say, I’m impressed by the story structure and I think the author pulled off something unique here. It’s hard to say I “liked” this book. It’s not an easy read with a simple, happy ending. It’s complex and messy. But, it’s a story that will stick with me for a while.

Queue (what I’m reading next)

I started Wolf Winter since I knew I had a long-weekend ahead of me and could probably read and finish a hardcover while I’m home. I feel like it’s kind of cheating to read this very “atmospheric” book in the 70+ degree (F) California spring sunshine. It’s kind of making me long for real winter and the great outdoors.

I was going to start Sword after I finished The Basic Eight, but I didn’t get a chance to, and now I think I’m leaning towards reading Fortune’s Pawn next…

And now, back to reading… and maybe a cat-nap in the sunshine… Here’s to lazy holiday weekends!